RANGERS HAVE TOO MUCH FOR PORTS
Goals either side of the break helped Carrick Rangers defeat Portadown at the Loughview Leisure Arena.
A quiet opening to the game saw few chances created at either end although Ben Tilney did fire from distance while new Portadown signing Greg Moorhouse just failed to direct a header on target.
The home side did look the more likely to find a way through as the first half progressed with David Cushley and then Andrew Mitchell offering up long range efforts before, in stoppage time, Cameron Stewart did find a way through after getting on the end of a Mitchell corner.
Stuart King's side doubled their advantage ten minutes after the interval. Alex Gawne fired an effort straight at keeper Jethren Barr with Emmett McGuckin pouncing on the rebound to make no mistake.
Carrick might have furthered their advantage after Tilney worked his way through the Ports defence but Barr produced a strong save to deny him - and the visiting keeper did well again to tip Peter McKiernan's shot over later in the game.
Carrick Rangers: Ross Glendinning, Forsythe, Stewart, Ervin, Cushley, Mitchell, McGuckin, Gawne, Reece Glendinning, Tilney, Anderson subs Hogg (not used), Surgenor (not used), Kalla (replaced Cushley 86), Buchanan-Rolleston (not used), Doyle (not used), McKiernan (replaced Gawne 80), Gillen (replaced McGuckin 90+2)
Portadown: Barr, Beverland, Upton, Balde, Stedman, Russell, McKeown, Moorhouse, McNally, Teggart, Jenkins subs McKenna (not used), Tlou (replaced Stedman 70), Donnellan (replaced Teggart 70), Moore (replaced Balde 70), Archer replaced (replaced McNally 46), Jordan (not used), Rutkowski (replaced Moorhouse 87)
Substitution 
Substitution 
